Former Navy SEAL: AR-15 best defense for citizens

Contrary to the notion that citizens should have limited access to AR-15s because they are “big scary guns,” a former Navy SEAL is speaking out in defense of the popular firearm.

In a new video, Dom Raso explains why the AR-15 gives Americans the best chance of surviving in an age of terror.

“The only way for us to stay free was by having whatever guns the bad guys have,” he said. “This firearm gives average people the advantage they so desperately need and deserve to protect their life, liberty and happiness.”

The AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the country. Democratic lawmakers and progressive activists unfamiliar with firearms tend to blame – often wrongly – the AR-15 as the weapon of choice for various terrorists. The AR-15 was incorrectly reported as the weapon Omar Mateen used to massacre 50+ people in Orlando on June 12.

Raso, a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran and founder of Dynamis Alliance, which offers firearms gear and training programs, strongly believes in self-defense. “As long as humans exist, there will be weapons in this world. We’re better off knowing how to use them and apply them for the right reasons – than not knowing how to use them,” he notes.

Raso encourages the choice of an AR-15 for a home-defense weapon because it is powerful, accurate and easy to shoot.

He makes the obvious point that gun control legislation doesn’t stop terror attacks, most recently in the cases of the attack in San Bernardino last December or the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. He also points out the irony of law enforcement responding to the crime scenes with AR-15s.

“Why would you want to ban the gun you pray for police to show up with?” Raso asked.

Popular misconceptions about AR-15s are widespread. The Daily Caller has a list of federal judges who think the AR-15 is a machine gun. Fox News’ Gretchen Carlson called for a ban on AR-15s since “there’s no doubt that Omar Mateen was able to kill so many people because he was firing an AR-15–a military style assault weapon,” ignoring the fact that the massacre occurred in a gun-free zone where club goers were defenseless.

The group Occupy Democrats incorrectly identifies the AR-15 as the “weapon of choice for mass shooters all over the nation,” including Orlando, Sandy Hook, San Bernardino and Aurora, adding, “There is little civilian use for the AR-15 aside from their personal enjoyment of the handling and fire rate.” The group urged people to sign a petition for banning the AR-15 which garnered 178,348 signatures in four days.

The assault on AR-15s is nothing new. A Washington Times article from 2013 states:

While the Obama administration calls for a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, the Department of Homeland Security is seeking to acquire 7,000 “personal defense weapons” – also known as “assault weapons” when owned by civilians. …

Critics, such as Republican New York state Sen. Greg Ball, are already blasting the DHS request, arguing that the government deems these firearms as suitable for self-defense but want to ban civilians from owning them.

Raso said Hillary Clinton’s desire to ban weaspons like the AR-15 is hypocritical since she herself relies on guards armed with them for her protection.

“I fought this enemy face-to-face for 12 years,” he said. “I know how they think, and I know the hatred that burns inside them. … Thank God we have the Second Amendment.”

“Please share and educate people on the facts,” Raso concludes on his Facebook page. “I’m tired of people that have no clue what they are talking about try to tell me and everyone else what we should be doing to protect ourselves.”